More than Half of English Clubs Facing Kit Delays
The BBC have reported that only 44 out of 92 Premier League and EFL clubs have both their home and away shirts available to buy just a few weeks ahead of the 22-23 season, with supply chain problems in Asia the main cause. Some clubs will likely start the season before their new shirts go on sale.
English Clubs Face Kit Delays
Although there are still quite a few new kit releases still to come, by this stage of the summer the majority of 22-23 shirts have already been released, some earlier than usual thanks to the early start of the 22-23 season. With the first ever winter World Cup disrupting the football calendar, this year the Premier League starts on August 5th, the Championship on July 29th and League One and League Two on July 30th.
Despite many launches going ahead, there are a lot of kits which are not yet available to buy. Out of the 92 clubs in the top four leagues:
- 44 teams have both kits available for sale on their website
- 22 teams have only their home kit available
- 7 teams have only their away kit available
- 19 teams have neither kit available
Although bigger clubs tend to sell more shirts, it is the smaller clubs who may feel the financial impact of these delays the most. Elite clubs usually receive a fixed rate from the kit manufacturer and about 7% commission on each unit sold.
Leeds and Crystal Palace are among the clubs affected, with neither having their home or away shirts available to buy.
As we have seen with delays of various boots over the last couple of years, COVID plays no small part in the problem, with factory closures in Asia and other pandemic-related difficulties the main reason for the majority of delays. Slowed production due to restrictions, as well as a shortage of container ships and disruption at ports have also contributed to the backlog.
The kits will eventually arrive at their destinations and fans will still be able to get heir hands on them, even if it is later than they had hoped. One possible outcome, however, could be a decrease in the number of kit sales for these clubs, due to the shortened window that fans have to buy them.
Has your club been hit by kit delays? Let us know in the comments.
Adidas Liverpool 26-27 LFSTLR Collection Leaked
Official images of the upcoming Adidas Liverpool LFSTLR collection for the 26-27 season have surfaced online, courtesy of kit insider @KamilBerberler. Following the popular black and gold capsule from the previous campaign, the newest lifestyle range from Adidas Originals switches direction with a sleek black and vibrant red color palette, merging retro football heritage with contemporary streetwear design.
The standout piece of the collection is a long-sleeve lifestyle jersey finished in a deep black base with a subtle, tonal all-over graphic incorporating the iconic Liver bird. Contrasting vibrant red accents define the look, highlighting the classic Adidas Three Stripes running down the shoulders and sleeves, the ribbed cuffs, and centrally stacked Trefoil and Liver bird logos. A matching full-zip coach track jacket and tailored track pants carry the same stealthy tonal pattern and bright red detailing.
Alongside the tracksuit is a bold red pullover hoodie featuring dark, centered chest emblems and "YNWA" typography printed on the sleeve cuff. Rounding out the lineup is a relaxed-fitting black t-shirt that displays the stacked red logos on the chest, a jacquard "YNWA" pattern knitted into the ribbed crew collar, and an oversized red "YNWA" wordmark across the lower back hem. The new Adidas Liverpool 26-27 LFSTLR range is expected to launch in the coming months.
Black & Gold Liverpool 26-27 Lifestyle Shirt Leaked - Official Images
Official images of the upcoming Adidas Liverpool 26-27 special-edition lifestyle and pre-match shirt have surfaced online, providing the clearest look yet at the luxurious black and gold design. Known unofficially as the "Gold Leaf" jersey, the shirt is set to release during the 26-27 season as part of Adidas's off-pitch and culture range for the club. Big thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The shirt features a stealth black foundation covered by an intricate metallic gold diamond lattice pattern across the front and back of the torso. Each diamond enclosure contains an ornate floral damask motif inspired by traditional Southeast Asian art, honoring Liverpool's vast Thai fanbase. A classic Adidas Trefoil logo appears on the right chest alongside the Liver bird crest on the left, both applied in matching gold.
Completing the design are solid black sleeves and a crossover V-neck collar detailed with a gold inner trim. Tailored as a high-fashion crossover rather than a competitive match kit, this special-edition pre-match and lifestyle shirt will be available in the 26-27 season.
QPR Kit Clash Against West Brom
QPR faced a major kit clash in their EFL Championship away game at West Brom, wearing their pink away shirt with blue shorts against West Brom's traditional blue-and-white home shirt.
The bright pink of QPR looked surprisingly similar to the white stripes of West Brom on TV, while the blue shorts and dark details made the overall contrast even less clear.
From the wide camera angle, the two teams became difficult to distinguish, creating a frustrating viewing experience for fans.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'Mambacurial' Releasing Next Week
Nike is set to officially bring back one of its most famous crossover designs, the Kobe 8 Protro "Mambacurial", releasing on September 19, 2026. First introduced in 2013 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant's lifelong passion for football, the sneaker drew direct inspiration from the vibrant 2013 Nike Mercurial Vapor IX football boot. Thirteen years after its original debut, the model returns under the modernized Protro banner, uniting basketball performance with iconic football heritage. Big thanks to House of Heat.
The shoe faithfully recreates the beloved colorway, featuring a bold gradient across the engineered mesh upper in Red Plum, Pink Flash, and Electric Green. Signature football details define the look, including the oversized forefoot Swoosh that mimics Mercurial boot branding, massive block-letter "NIKE" lettering across the medial flank, and a translucent neon green outsole. Modern Protro upgrades have been implemented beneath the surface to provide improved cushioning and traction.